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If I am correct, Rick Ankiel has not been claimed by a team. I think he would be an intriguing pick-up for us. He doesn't hit very well, but he has some power and is at least better than Chavez with the bat. He's only played Center Field this year but has played left in his career. And let's be honest, he's got a CANNON from the outfield. I would remove Chavez from the 25-man and 40-man rosters and replace him with Ankiel. Hopefully, I have all these contract stuff down.

osforlife wrote:If I am correct, Rick Ankiel has not been claimed by a team. I think he would be an intriguing pick-up for us. He doesn't hit very well, but he has some power and is at least better than Chavez with the bat. He's only played Center Field this year but has played left in his career. And let's be honest, he's got a CANNON from the outfield. I would remove Chavez from the 25-man and 40-man rosters and replace him with Ankiel. Hopefully, I have all these contract stuff down.

I question whether Ankiel would be an OVERALL upgrade over Avery. IMO, THAT'S who should be playing LF since he's a possible solution for the future. Chavez and Ankiel aren't.

I think everyone would rather have Avery. But if it came down to Chavez or Ankiel, I'd take Ankiel. I think this move would be a defensive uprgrade too. Not sure how his glove is but his arm itself is roster-changing.

Exactly, and I think that's one reason they DFA'd Pearce right now instead of optioning Tolleson. Both Pearce and Ankiel are on the market at the same time, and I suspect they think teams will go for Ankiel before Pearce, which will enable them to stash the latter at Norfolk. Pearce is primarily a first baseman, and they've already got plenty of those on the ML roster.

dan72 wrote:Because he's a scrap heap guy that doesn't factor into any long term plans. He doesn't offer an upgrade over Pearce.

Avery should be playing that spot.

But Avery isn't playing in that spot. Every fan probably wishes he was, but he isn't. When I wrote this topic, Pearce and Chavez had 25-man roster spots. Ankiel provides an upgrade over Chavez, and we still get to keep Pearce.

How many wins does aquiring Ankiel add? my guess would be zero, depending on how Buck plays the team. If Buck wants to play Chris Davis in LF than yes Ankiel would be a defensive upgrade. I'd like to see one guy settle into LF, and my choice would be Avery. Thats just my opinion. Avery is playing CF in Norfolk because that is his natural position, with Jones in Baltimore his best fit here will be LF.

I feel like the Orioles have to many cast offs and Ankiel would be one more.

Ampontan wrote:Exactly, and I think that's one reason they DFA'd Pearce right now instead of optioning Tolleson. Both Pearce and Ankiel are on the market at the same time, and I suspect they think teams will go for Ankiel before Pearce, which will enable them to stash the latter at Norfolk. Pearce is primarily a first baseman, and they've already got plenty of those on the ML roster.

That's an interesting theory and I hope you are right. I just feel like he is a perfect fit off the bench vs lefties.

dan72 wrote:How many wins does aquiring Ankiel add? my guess would be zero, depending on how Buck plays the team. If Buck wants to play Chris Davis in LF than yes Ankiel would be a defensive upgrade. I'd like to see one guy settle into LF, and my choice would be Avery. Thats just my opinion. Avery is playing CF in Norfolk because that is his natural position, with Jones in Baltimore his best fit here will be LF.

I feel like the Orioles have to many cast offs and Ankiel would be one more.

Everybody wishes Avery would be playing LF. Nobody is argueing that. I'am just saying, Ankiel would be an upgrade over Chavez off the bench. Are you saying Ankiel would not provide an upgrade over Chavez?

osforlife wrote:Everybody wishes Avery would be playing LF. Nobody is argueing that. I'am just saying, Ankiel would be an upgrade over Chavez off the bench. Are you saying Ankiel would not provide an upgrade over Chavez?

I do feel Ankiel would be an upgrade over Chavez. To me it really boils down to can this team hold it together through August and still be in the race when rosters can expand to 40. Ankiel is in no way a long term solution or a guy you want beyond this year, but if you believe they can make a run, I would rather have him than Chavez.

Plus he could replace Chris Davis as our 15th innning arm ou of the pen (I've heard he has some pitching experience).